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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of United Arab Emirates. This is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest mosque in the world. Sheikh Zayed Mosque has approximately the area of 5 football fields and can accommodate more than 40,000 people.

For the construction of mosque were used materials brought from all over the world such as Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China and the UK. More than 3,000 workers took part in the construction of Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Natural materials were used for the construction of the mosque such as marble, gold, semi-precious materials, crystals and ceramics.

International records

Sheikh Zayed Mosque has the largest carpet in the world, which is manufactured and imported from Iran. The area of carpet - 5,627 square meters and weight - 35 tons. The total number of knots is 2,268,000,000. Over two years had been spent on its completion. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a unique construction, not only in the UAE, but also worldwide.

Spacious halls of Sheikh Zayed Mosque are illuminated with magnificent chandeliers, decorated with Swarovski crystals and gold. These pieces of art were produced in Austria and specifically brought to the Emirates. The most massive chandelier reaches ten meters in diameter, and weighs about twelve tons. This is the most ambitious lighting fixture, decorating a mosque.

A bit of history of the mosque

Sheikh Zayed Mosque, one of the six largest mosques in the world, is located in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. The name of the mosque was in honor of the president and founder of the United Arab Emirates - Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Opening of the mosque took place in the holy month for all Muslims Ramadan in 2007.

Given the enormous costs of construction and decoration of the mosque, the mosque symbolizes success and wealth of the United Arab Emirates. Exorbitant luxury and magnificence of decoration constitutes not only a kind of illustration of oriental wealth. For local people, it is above all a monument dedicated to the great figure of the Arab people and father-founder of the Emirates. Thanks to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian principalities were united and turned into a rapidly developing country.

Features of Sheikh Zayed mosque

The main feature of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is free access for guests of all faiths and religious backgrounds. Excursions and visits to the mosque are available to all visitors and tourists without exception. Visiting the mosque is absolutely free.

It should be noted that the mosque is able to accommodate simultaneously more than 40 thousand people, and the main prayer hall is ready to accept around 7,000 believers.  

The height of corner minarets of the mosque is more than 100 meters, and the number of domes of the main building is 82. The domes of the mosque are decorated with snow-white Italian marble, and the courtyard of the mosque is artfully laid out with a multi-colored marble. Walls and pillars of the building are inlaid with glass and gold mosaics, crystals and semi-precious stones, and artistic ensembles made ​​out of marble bring indescribable charm to it.

Along the perimeter the mosque is surrounded by artificial channels and ponds, the total area of which is more than 7000 square meters. Dark tile of artificial lakes at night perfectly shades white walls of the temple.

The majestic temple, built by the efforts of specialists from around the world, has become a symbol of purity and luxury of Muslim world.

Terms and conditions for visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Entrance to the mosque is free and open every day from morning to afternoon, except for Friday prayer.

Foreign tourists planning to visit this mosque should pay attention to the appearance. Visitors should choose more conservative clothes in order not to offend religious feelings of Muslims. First of all – it is non-slim fit clothing with sleeves, long skirts and trousers. A woman’s head should be covered with a scarf, which you get at the entrance.

Foreign guests and visitors are asked to attend only permitted areas. In the prayer rooms it is forbidden to eat and smoke; also it is not allowed to touch the Holy Koran and other religious items.

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